Symposium 3: Young Investigators Symposium Diet-related psycho-social factors associated with fat, fruits and vegetable consumption in adults

There is consistent evidence that eating fruits and vegetables (F&V) and reducing fat intake reduce risks of major chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and some cancers. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the relationship between diet-related psycho-social factors such as stages of change, self-efficacy, perceived benefits, perceived barriers and fat, fruit, and vegetable intake among 100 UPM staff. The sample comprised academic (29%) and non-academic staff (71%) with a mean age of 34 years. Data on socio-economic status, selfefficacy, and stages of change (SOC), perceived benefits and barriers to fat, fruit and vegetable intake were collected using a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire. Dietary fat, fruit and vegetable servings were determined from two days of 24-hour diet recall data. The mean fat intake was 54.98±22.72 g with 63% of the subjects consuming more than 30% of total calories from fat. The mean serving size for fruit and vegetables was 1.57±1.79 and 2.04±1.91 respectively. A significantly higher intake of fruit was observed in the academic group compared to the nonacademic group (t=6.441, p<0.05) but not for fat and vegetable intake. Using the SOC algorithm, 11% and 7% of the subjects were in Stage I (Pre-Contemplation), for fat and F&V (combined) intake respectively, 6% and 1% in Stage II (Contemplation), followed by 68% and 40% in Stage III (Preparation), 1% and 34% in Stage IV and in Stage V, 14% and 18%, respectively. Fruit mean serving size increased from lowest in Stage 1 (0.8) and highest in Stage 3 (1.79). A similar trend was seen for vegetable intake. Self-efficacy for fat showed a decrease in fat intake from highest in the ‘not confident’ group (58.57±24.8 g) to lowest in the ‘very confident’ group (50.15±17.45 g). The mean number of fruit servings was similar across self efficacy levels but vegetable intake was highest in the ‘somewhat confident’ group (2.21±2.44) and lowest in the ‘not confident’ group (1.87±1.18). Frequent eating out was the highest barrier for fat reduction (42%) while the highest benefit for fat reduction was its potential to reduce the risk for chronic diseases (56%). For benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables, 60% agreed that both are good for health while 8% identified price and shelf life as the most important barriers. Persons with more perceived benefits consumed less fat and more fruits and vegetables. The perceived benefits were negatively associated with perceived barriers for fat intake (r=-0.204, p<0.05) while there was no association between perceived benefits and barriers with fruit and vegetable servings. In conclusion, psychosocial factors appear to influence fat, fruit and vegetable intake in this group of adults. Nutrition education programmes should focus on staging, increasing self-efficacy and perceived benefits while trying to reduce perceived barriers for effective change in diet related health behaviours

Advances in the endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of Barrett’s neoplasia

Barrett’s oesophagus is a well-recognised precursor of oesophageal adenocarcinoma. The incidence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma is continuing to rise in the Western world with dismal survival rates. In recent years, efforts have been made to diagnose Barrett’s earlier and improve surveillance techniques in order to pick up cancerous changes earlier. Recent advances in endoscopic therapy for early Barrett’s cancers have shifted the paradigm away from oesophagectomy and have yielded excellent results

Water and Ion Channels: Crucial in the Initiation and Progression of Apoptosis in Central Nervous System?

Programmed cell death (PCD), is a highly regulated and sophisticated cellular mechanism that commits cell to isolated death fate. PCD has been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous neurodegenerative disorders. Countless molecular events underlie this phenomenon, with each playing a crucial role in death commitment. A precedent event, apoptotic volume decrease (AVD), is ubiquitously observed in various forms of PCD induced by different cellular insults. Under physiological conditions, cells when subjected to osmotic fluctuations will undergo regulatory volume increase/decrease (RVI/RVD) to achieve homeostatic balance with neurons in the brain being additionally protected by the blood-brain-barrier. However, during AVD following apoptotic trigger, cell undergoes anistonic shrinkage that involves the loss of water and ions, particularly monovalent ions e.g. K+, Na+ and Cl-. It is worthwhile to concentrate on the molecular implications underlying the loss of these cellular components which posed to be significant and crucial in the successful propagation of the apoptotic signals. Microarray and real-time PCR analyses demonstrated several ion and water channel genes are regulated upon the onset of lactacystin (a proteosomal inhibitor)-mediated apoptosis. A time course study revealed that gene expressions of water and ion channels are being modulated just prior to apoptosis, some of which are aquaporin 4 and 9, potassium channels and chloride channels. In this review, we shall looked into the molecular protein machineries involved in the execution of AVD in the central nervous system (CNS), and focus on the significance of movements of each cellular component in affecting PCD commitment, thus provide some pharmacological advantages in the global apoptotic cell death

Adapting treatment approaches for dentigerous cysts in paediatric and adult patients: A case series

From Wiley via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: received 2019-12-23, accepted 2020-10-10, pub-electronic 2020-11-27, pub-print 2021-08Article version: VoRPublication status: PublishedAbstract: Dentigerous cysts are common odontogenic cysts treated through surgical enucleation. This article presents paediatric and adult cases where surgical planning and treatment of dentigerous cysts were adapted according to various clinical challenges. Additionally, spontaneous regression of a dentigerous cyst associated with a maxillary canine is reported

Structural basis of GM-CSF and IL-2 sequestration by the viral decoy receptor GIF.

Subversion of the host immune system by viruses is often mediated by molecular decoys that sequester host proteins pivotal to mounting effective immune responses. The widespread mammalian pathogen parapox Orf virus deploys GIF, a member of the poxvirus immune evasion superfamily, to antagonize GM-CSF (granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor) and IL-2 (interleukin-2), two pleiotropic cytokines of the mammalian immune system. However, structural and mechanistic insights into the unprecedented functional duality of GIF have remained elusive. Here we reveal that GIF employs a dimeric binding platform that sequesters two copies of its target cytokines with high affinity and slow dissociation kinetics to yield distinct complexes featuring mutually exclusive interaction footprints. We illustrate how GIF serves as a competitive decoy receptor by leveraging binding hotspots underlying the cognate receptor interactions of GM-CSF and IL-2, without sharing any structural similarity with the cytokine receptors. Our findings contribute to the tracing of novel molecular mimicry mechanisms employed by pathogenic viruses

Архетип свобода у контексті французької політичної теорії та історії

Розглянуто сучасні підходи щодо аналізу політичної ментальності. У межах політологічного аналізу окреслено коло проблем, які потребують вирішення з використанням підходів психології. Зроблено висновок про те, що архетип “свобода” становить важливий елемент політичної ментальності французів.Modern approaches of analysis of political mentality are considered. Within the limits of political science analysis outlined circle of problems which need decision with the use of approaches of psychology. A conclusion is done that archetype freedom makes the important element of political mentality of French’s

Profile of and risk factors for poststroke cognitive impairment in diverse ethno-regional groups

OBJECTIVE: To address the variability in prevalence estimates and inconsistencies in potential risk factors for poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) using a standardized approach and individual participant data (IPD) from international cohorts in the Stroke and Cognition Consortium (STROKOG) consortium. METHODS: We harmonized data from 13 studies based in 8 countries. Neuropsychological test scores 2 to 6 months after stroke or TIA and appropriate normative data were used to calculate standardized cognitive domain scores. Domain-specific impairment was based on percentile cutoffs from normative groups, and associations between domain scores and risk factors were examined with 1-stage IPD meta-analysis. RESULTS: In a combined sample of 3,146 participants admitted to hospital for stroke (97%) or TIA (3%), 44% were impaired in global cognition and 30% to 35% were impaired in individual domains 2 to 6 months after the index event. Diabetes mellitus and a history of stroke were strongly associated with poorer cognitive function after covariate adjustments; hypertension, smoking, and atrial fibrillation had weaker domain-specific associations. While there were no significant differences in domain impairment among ethno-racial groups, some interethnic differences were found in the effects of risk factors on cognition. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the high prevalence of PSCI in diverse populations, highlights common risk factors, in particular diabetes mellitus, and points to ethno-racial differences that warrant attention in the development of prevention strategies.OBJECTIVE: To address the variability in prevalence estimates and inconsistencies in potential risk factors for poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) using a standardized approach and individual participant data (IPD) from international cohorts in the Stroke and Cognition Consortium (STROKOG) consortium. METHODS: We harmonized data from 13 studies based in 8 countries. Neuropsychological test scores 2 to 6 months after stroke or TIA and appropriate normative data were used to calculate standardized cognitive domain scores. Domain-specific impairment was based on percentile cutoffs from normative groups, and associations between domain scores and risk factors were examined with 1-stage IPD meta-analysis. RESULTS: In a combined sample of 3,146 participants admitted to hospital for stroke (97%) or TIA (3%), 44% were impaired in global cognition and 30% to 35% were impaired in individual domains 2 to 6 months after the index event. Diabetes mellitus and a history of stroke were strongly associated with poorer cognitive function after covariate adjustments; hypertension, smoking, and atrial fibrillation had weaker domain-specific associations. While there were no significant differences in domain impairment among ethnoracial groups, some interethnic differences were found in the effects of risk factors on cognition. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the high prevalence of PSCI in diverse populations, highlights common risk factors, in particular diabetes mellitus, and points to ethnoracial differences that warrant attention in the development of prevention strategies.Peer reviewe